After getting out to a fast lead over Ghana, the U.S. was tied until the 86th minute, when John Brooks scored the winning goal.

Fans in red, white and blue at the Coat of Arms in Portsmouth were holding their breath after the U.S. jumped out to an early lead in its first game of the tournament.

“I think it’s a good start,” said Corey Butterworth of Portsmouth. “We’re going to be hanging on for dear life the rest of the way.”

When Ghana tied the match at 1-1, it was an all-too-familiar feeling, fans said.

But the winning goal sent the Coat of Arms crowd into a fit of football madness. New Hampshire fans and people from around the globe celebrated the victory.

“It’s brilliant here,” said Nigel Smith of Portsmouth. “You get all different nationalities. Get the people that are really into soccer. We watch soccer all year round.”

As the enthusiasm for American soccer continues to grow, longtime fans said they are amazed at how far things have come.

“When I was a kid, I couldn’t even dream of seeing a live game on TV anywhere back in the ’70s,” said Didier Matel of Hampton Falls.

There were even people rooting for Ghana in Portsmouth on Monday.

“I’m very disappointed,” Seth Reynolds said. “I feel like they really needed it as a win for a country.”

Ghana knocked the United States out of the World Cup in 2010, and Monday’s win served as a little bit of revenge. However, Group G, the group the U.S. is playing in, also includes Germany and Portugal, who are so good, some are calling it the “Group of Death.”

“Germany and Portugal are probably a lot better than us, at least on paper. So we’ll see how it goes,” said Brandon Terry of Portsmouth.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE STILL HOPING TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN. A THRILLING START TO THE WORLD CUP FOR FANS OF TEAM U.S.A. DEMPSEY. INCREDIBLY, WITHIN SECONDS. AFTER GETTING OUT TO A VERY FAST LEAD OVER GHANA, THE U.S. HELD ON AS GHANA TIED THE GAME, THEN SCORED THE WINNING GOAL IN THE 86TH MINUTE. ADAM SEXTON CAUGHT UP WITH WORLD CUP FANS IN PORTSMOUTH AT THE COAT OF ARMS. FANS IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE WERE HOLDING THEIR BREATH AFTER THE U.S. JUMPED OUT THE AN EARLY LEAD IN ITS FIRST GAME OF THE WORLD CUP. I THINK IT'S A GOOD START. WE'RE GOING TO BE -- IT WAS AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR FEELING, BUT THEN IN THE 86TH MINUTE -- U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.! TEAM U.S.A.'S GOAL WITH TIME RUNNING OUTSET THE COAT OF ARMS INTO A FIT OF FOOTBALL MADNESS. GRANITE STATERS AND PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE CELEBRATING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. WE WATCH SOCCER ALL YEAR ROUND. AS THE ENTHUSIASM FOR AMERICAN SOCCER CONTINUES TO GROW, LONG-TIME FANS ARE AMAZED AT HOW FAR THINGS HAVE COME. WHEN I WAS A KID I CONE EVEN DREAM OF SEEING A LIVE GAME ON TV ANYWHERE BACK IN THE 70'S. NOW THERE ARE EVEN PEOPLE ROOTING FOR GHANA HERE IN PORTSMOUTH. AND FOR THEM THIS LOSS HURTS. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED. I FEEL LIKE THEY REALLY NEEDED IT. GHANA ACTUALLY KNOCKED THE UNITED STATES OUT OF THE WORLD CUP IN 2010, SO THIS VICTORY WAS A NICE LITTLE BUILT OF REVENGE. BUT THE GROUP THE UNITED STATES IS PLAYING IN ALSO INCLUDES GERMANY AND PORTUGAL. THEY'RE SO GOOD SOME ARE CALLING THIS THE GROUP OF DEATH. GERMANY AND PORTUGAL ARE PROBABLY A LOT BETH THAN THIS, AT LEAST ON PAPER. SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. BUT FOR NOW, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS